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Thread: Color Psychology in CCW

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    Administrator Rick's Avatar
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    Default Color Psychology in CCW

    I've never been a big fan of pink handguns for women to carry as a defensive tool. We just don't view pink as a threat the way we do black or OD or some other hard color. Obviously the color of the weapon doesn't make it any less lethal but my concern is a guy might try to reason with a woman that pulls a pink weapon. That's not what you want to happen. You don't want the woman forced into a situation that she has to fire if the display of the weapon is enough to deter the criminal. Pull a black weapon and the bad guys might back away and look for an easier target.

    Maybe I'm all wet in my thinking but if a woman in my family has to pull a weapon I want the bad guy to know instantly that he has found himself in a bad situation and he needs to back off. That might not happen as quickly with a pink weapon. One of the reasons, in my opinion, that anti-gunners hate ARs is because they just look bad. It doesn't matter the capability they are black and they just look nasty bad. I think that same psychology carries over to other colors.

    I just throw this out to think about if you or your female companion are considering a new CCW for her (or yourself if you are a woman). You want every possible edge in your defense and color may well play a role.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_psychology


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    Senior Member kyratshooter's Avatar
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    I have always favored nickel plated guns for the women in my life for about the same reasons.

    If my wife or daughter has to pull a gun I want everyone in the immediate area to know the gun is there instantly.

    Nothing is more scary than a frightened/mad woman with a gun!

    Much easier for a woman to do a convincing "fear for your life" statement too.

    A close friend did just purchase a Charter .38 in pink anodized finish.

    I doubt that the color will make any difference because she is more of a shooter and less of a threatener.

    I wonder if I would hate for my last thought, as a bad guy, to be that I was just blown away by a woman with a pink pistol.
    Last edited by kyratshooter; 10-09-2014 at 11:26 AM.
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    Great post Rick. I have long thought that pink firearms had the look of toys and may not be taken seriously.
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    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
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    Good point.

    Unless I win one at a D.U. Dinner or something,..... this isn't a concern for me/us.
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    Quote Originally Posted by kyratshooter View Post

    Nothing is more scary than a frightened/mad woman with a gun!
    A frightened/mad woman with PMS and a gun

    When I lived out west I saw a sign on a road leading into a large ranch, it read

    - No trespassing, owner is armed and has PMS -

    I continued driving down the road...

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    The size of the barrel, more than the color of the gun, I think. Hard to see what color it is when you're staring up the barrel from the business end.

    I do understand the psychology of the idea, tho. Would a gun color like seafoam green, or baby blue be less effective? no, but the offending party might see it as an opportunity to get inside your head.. plead with you, or some other stuff I can't seem to put into words. greens and blues and even pink would make the statement of being easily persuaded.

    Guns shouldn't look like toys. They should look like guns. black, or metal.
    Now that I think about it, red might even be a good color ?
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    With all due respect... I think The "pink is a bad color for a gun " argument is bogus.... If she is pulling the gun on someone, it should be to use it. I was always taught that you dont aim a gun at somebody to intimidate someone- you aim a gun at somebody to shoot them. If it gets to that point, the color doesnt matter one little bit.
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    Quote Originally Posted by NightShade View Post
    With all due respect... I think The "pink is a bad color for a gun " argument is bogus.... If she is pulling the gun on someone, it should be to use it. I was always taught that you dont aim a gun at somebody to intimidate someone- you aim a gun at somebody to shoot them. If it gets to that point, the color doesnt matter one little bit.
    Agree with that....If you are gonna pull it, you better be ready to use it.
    Last edited by hunter63; 10-09-2014 at 06:12 PM.
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    As one of the female persuasion, I have to say I was (surprisingly) pulled to buy a pink gun. If they had offered my selection in that color I would have bought it and carried it. Or in lime green.
    WHY? because I don't need to look all bada$$ or scary or out there or like a guy. In fact, I don't want to.

    I just need to know I have the weapon that will take care of the situation at home or elsewhere.

    Pink signifies girlie/mom/barbies to many. TO ME IT WOULD HAVE MEANT I COULD SEE MY GUN IN MY BLACK PURSE AT ALL TIMES. At night, at dusk. In a dark parking lot. I bought a lime green IPhone for that very same reason. Most gals carry black/dark purses and guess what, the interiors are also that color. I don't want to be searching for the gun by feel. I want to see it and have it ready when needed.

    But they did not offer my weapon of choice in that color.

    Ok JMHO
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    I read once that all police officers should carry pink guns rather than black, for the psychology to remind them they're not soldiers, to maybe cut down on times when lethal force is uncalled for, but used anyways.

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    Ha Chris.

    To address the original post I'll say that while I don't spend my time menacing women, if one ever points a gun at me I'm probably not going to be concerned with what color it is. That might just be me but I suspect that in general it's attitude with which it's done that will determine how seriously the introduction of force will be received if the sight of a gun doesn't make the difference.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris View Post
    I read once that all police officers should carry pink guns rather than black, for the psychology to remind them they're not soldiers, to maybe cut down on times when lethal force is uncalled for, but used anyways.
    It was about knives rather than guns, but one article I read suggested that knives in bright or pastel colors are perceived as less threatening and intimidating than knives with black or dark handles. I think this article was probably correct. The article was about legal defense if a knife must be used for self defense.

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    You are right on the money Rick. I think it is just more wuss-a-facation of the U.S.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nightshade
    If she is pulling the gun on someone, it should be to use it.


    That's a common misconception. There are plenty of situations in which the display of a weapon is both warranted and prudent. If a person is approaching you with a knife or club but yet a safe distance away the display of a weapon may stop them in their tracks. The night I caught someone breaking into my truck I was forced to approach from the opposite side of the vehicle. I had no idea whether he was armed or not and if he was armed what he might have had. I approached with gun drawn and we met at the back of the truck. Had I used my weapon I would have shot an unarmed 19 year old. Had I approached with weapon holstered I might have gotten my butt kicked or worse. As it was, the display of a weapon diffused the situation. He left, I called the police and he was arrested. LEO displays their weapon all the time to diffuse a situation
    and to be prepared to defend themselves IF necessary.

    If you were to change that comment to."
    If she is pulling the gun on someone, SHE should be READY to use it," then I would agree with you.

    As to whether my color post is bogus, it might well be. As I said, I might be all wet. I only offered it as food for thought. If someone is choosing a defensive carry weapon I believe they should do so with as much fore thought put toward the right weapon as possible.

    @Solar Geek - Your post on finding it in a dark purse is probably a valid argument but I have this conversation with my wife all the time. What happens if you don't have time to dig through your purse or the purse gets snatched? One member purposely purchased a pink rifle so it would be easier to find in the snow. So there are valid considerations on color.

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    Interesting post, Rick. I see your point although I have not made up my mind about the issue. One of my grand daughters was offered the opportunity to get a pink rifle and said "No Way" For some people, a pink gun MAY be less intimidating, for others any color of a firearm in intimidating. I agree that the size of the hole in the barrel of any firearm that is pointed at you is the most intimidating thing, in MHO. I really think non traditional colors are just a marketing gimmick. (I saw an add last night in a gun magazine for purple firearms).

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    Senior Member natertot's Avatar
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    I used to work with a female officer who carried pink handcuffs. Men absolutely hated getting arrested by her!!!!!!
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    Someone mentioned red. That would be bad. Most toy guns have a red muzzle to signify they are toys. If my kids have a toy gun, and the muzzle isn't red, I make sure and paint it red.

    I think it is true that you don't want a real gun perceived as a toy, but you also don't want a toy gun perceived as real.
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    Senior Member natertot's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by finallyME View Post
    Someone mentioned red. That would be bad. Most toy guns have a red muzzle to signify they are toys. If my kids have a toy gun, and the muzzle isn't red, I make sure and paint it red.

    I think it is true that you don't want a real gun perceived as a toy, but you also don't want a toy gun perceived as real.

    Here in my area, they are safety orange and people (criminals) paint the tips of real guns that color so police won't shoot when necessary. That is the criminals hope anyway.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rick View Post
    I've never been a big fan of pink handguns for women to carry as a defensive tool. We just don't view pink as a threat the way we do black or OD or some other hard color. Obviously the color of the weapon doesn't make it any less lethal but my concern is a guy might try to reason with a woman that pulls a pink weapon. That's not what you want to happen. You don't want the woman forced into a situation that she has to fire if the display of the weapon is enough to deter the criminal. Pull a black weapon and the bad guys might back away and look for an easier target.

    Maybe I'm all wet in my thinking but if a woman in my family has to pull a weapon I want the bad guy to know instantly that he has found himself in a bad situation and he needs to back off. That might not happen as quickly with a pink weapon. One of the reasons, in my opinion, that anti-gunners hate ARs is because they just look bad. It doesn't matter the capability they are black and they just look nasty bad. I think that same psychology carries over to other colors.

    I just throw this out to think about if you or your female companion are considering a new CCW for her (or yourself if you are a woman). You want every possible edge in your defense and color may well play a role.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_psychology
    I have never been a fan of anything PINK!
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  20. #20

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    I think that Rick has a valid point. Nowadays many toy guns, in addition to the red barrel tip, are molded from brightly colored plastic. There are two types of force employed against an assailant when you draw your weapon - physical and psychological. The physical force is latent until you pull the trigger but the psychological force is present as soon as your weapon is displayed. Giving the bad guy any reason to believe that he is being bluffed will deprive you of that psychological force and escalate the encounter to the point of burning powder.

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